Chapter 24. Launch into Work

24.1. Chapter OverviewCopy citation · §24.1

This Chapter outlines the requirements for Providers with regard to LiW.

24.2. BackgroundCopy citation · §24.2

LiW funds employers (i.e. LiW Organisations) to deliver LiW Projects that include:

• Pre-LiW Project events focused on screening and selection of the Caseload to identify Participants who are suitable for a LiW Project

  • LiW Organisations select candidates based on the essential values and attributes required for success in the participating employer's entry-level jobs

  • Participants who are selected for a LiW Placement are 'LiW Project Participants'

• Delivery of the LiW Project to selected Participants

  • The LiW Organisation prepares Participants for employment by providing training, practical workplace activities and mentoring tailored to the roles available with the participating employer(s).

The LiW Organisation, or nominated employer for coordinated projects, is required to commit to employing all suitable Participants who successfully complete the LiW Project. The number of LiW Project Participants must not exceed the number of available jobs.

The LiW Program creates opportunities for Participants who would not otherwise have been offered employment through typical recruitment methods.

LiW Organisations provide information to Providers and potential LiW Project Participants about career pathways in their industry and organisation.

LiW Projects offer Providers the opportunity to place Participants into an Activity that leads to a guaranteed employment outcome for all LiW Project Participants who successfully complete all aspects of the LiW Project. LiW Project Participants will be deemed to have successfully completed the LiW Project when they:

• successfully complete the required training

• participate in mentoring

• participate in practical workplace activities

• have a positive attendance record for the duration of the LiW Placement

• demonstrate the required values and attributes throughout the LiW Placement

• any other requirements of the LiW Project and employer(s).

Providers cannot provide or purchase LiW Projects.

24.3. Benefits to ParticipantsCopy citation · §24.3

Participants who are selected for and successfully complete all aspects of a LiW Project are guaranteed employment with the participating employer(s) (the definition of successfully completes a LiW placement provided at section 24.2 applies to the guaranteed employment outcome).

LiW is a high intensity form of pre-employment preparation. Projects vary in duration depending on the requirements of the role. They can run for 2 weeks and up to 12 weeks.

LiW Project Participants gain Points under the PBAS for their participation in screening and selection processes and LiW Projects. A Participant's Job Search Requirement will be automatically set to zero when the Provider commences the Participant into the LiW Project in Workforce Australia Online. Refer to the Job Plan and Mutual Obligations Requirements Chapter for more information.

The Targeted Compliance Framework will not apply for non-attendance in pre-LiW Project events and LiW Projects, however, it will apply if Participants fail to meet their Points Requirement.

24.4. Role of ProvidersCopy citation · §24.4

The role of Providers in the LiW Project is:

• attending a provider briefing session delivered by the LiW Organisation and department regarding the Project and risk assessments

• collaborating with the LiW Organisation to promote LiW Projects and the associated employment outcome to LiW Project Participants

• identifying and referring potentially suitable and interested Participants to LiW Project information sessions and screening and selection processes

• supporting the preparation of Participants for LiW Project screening and selection, through resume development, interview preparation and organising pre-employment checks where required, e.g. police checks, working with children checks or medical assessments (this includes supporting Participants to source the relevant identity documents)

• placing and commencing Participants who are selected by the LiW Organisation for the LiW Project against the Activity ID in the Department's IT Systems to enable them to earn their full PBAS points from the first day of the project

• ensuring that the Participant is set up on Workforce Australia Online to claim their PBAS points for screening and selection related assessments and the LiW Project (this includes instances where the Provider has removed the PA03 Job Plan code from the Participant’s Job Plan and the Participant cannot self report).

• providing transport support to Participants (if required) to enable them to participate in screening and selection, pre-employment checks, the LiW Project and the early stages of employment and meeting the cost of pre-employment checks and personal protective equipment (where this is not met by the LiW Organisation)

• conducting Participant and Activity Risk Assessments prior to commencement of the LiW Project, updating Participant and Activity Risk Assessments (as required) if any aspects of the LiW Project change during the LiW Project, and critical incident management during the LiW Project (if required)

• working collaboratively with the LiW Organisation to follow up on any issues throughout the LiW Project and the early stages of employment (e.g. non-attendance of Participants on their Caseload).

Providers may be able to seek reimbursement from the Employment Fund for goods and services related to LiW participation where it is not funded through the LiW Activity. Providers should refer to, and comply with, the requirements specified in the Employment Fund Chapter.

(Deed Reference(s): Clauses 90, 122, 132)

24.5. EligibilityCopy citation · §24.5

Participants must be in Workforce Australia Services, Transition to Work or Parent Pathways and must be aged 18 years or over to participate in a LiW Project.

Other eligibility requirements will vary depending on the job role and the needs of the employer who is offering guaranteed jobs to successful Participants. These will be clearly communicated at the provider briefing and LiW Project information sessions.

24.6. Collaboration with Launch into Work OrganisationsCopy citation · §24.6

The Department will notify Providers when there is a LiW Project opportunity in their location and invite them to a LiW Project briefing session with the LiW Organisation. At the briefing session the LiW Organisation will:

• describe the LiW Project duration and the job type, employment outcome and supported career pathways offered by the participating employer(s)

• describe the values and attributes Participants will require to be successful in employment on completion of the LiW Project (Providers must use this information to screen their Caseload prior to referral of a Participant to a LiW Project information session)

• outline the screening and selection process and the pre-employment checks required to determine Participant suitability for commencement in the LiW Project

• provide timelines for Participant referral, screening and selection, project delivery and employment.

Following the briefing session, Providers will:

• screen their Caseload for Participants who are interested and may be suitable for a LiW Placement

• if required, organise a space for a virtual LiW Project information session and support Participants to complete any expression of interest forms

• refer interested and suitable potential Participants (in keeping with the LiW Organisation’s requirements) to a LiW Project information session or assessment centre with the LiW Organisation

• provide Participants with:

  • any LiW Project specific marketing material (where applicable), e.g. flyers, position descriptions

  • details of the LiW Project job seeker information session and any information they need to bring with them to the session

  • a basic understanding of the employer and positions available.

The LiW Organisation will undertake screening and selection activities to identify their preferred LiW Project Participants and invite them to commence in the LiW Project.

LiW Organisations will ensure all relevant Personnel and Supervisors involved in LiW Projects have undertaken appropriate employment checks for their role and are fit for involvement in the LiW Project.

• System step — The LiW Organisation does not have IT system access. Where the Participant or the LiW Organisation advises the servicing Provider that a Participant has attended a job interview or other assessment activities (such as a medical) for a LiW Project after the fact, the servicing Provider can add a task on behalf of the Participant via the IT system. Refer to the Meeting the Points Requirement section in the Jobs Plan and Mutual Obligations Chapter for more information.

• System step — Providers may be able to seek reimbursement from the Employment Fund for goods and services related to LiW participation where it is not funded through the LiW Project. Providers should refer to, and comply with, the requirements specified in the Employment Fund Chapter.

The LiW Organisation will advise the Provider when the Participant has passed all the required pre-employment checks and has been selected for the LiW Project. The LiW Organisation will provide constructive feedback to those not successful in securing a position on the LiW Project.

• System step — The LiW Organisation does not have IT system access and cannot schedule the Activity for the LiW Project Participant. The Provider must place and commence the LiW Project Participant into the Activity using the Activity ID provided by the Department.

Once the placement of the Participant into the Activity has been confirmed by the Provider a weekly declaration will be triggered to allow the LiW Project Participant to confirm participation in the LiW Project via the Workforce Australia website or mobile app. Where LiW Project Participants do not have the authority to confirm their own participation in the Activity, the Provider will need to do this on their behalf. Where this is the case, the Provider must advise the LiW Organisation at the commencement of the relevant Participant in the LiW Project, request regular updates from the LiW Organisation on the Participant's attendance and use this information to update the Participant's details on their behalf. Refer to the Job Plan and Mutual Obligations Requirements Chapter for more information.

Consistent with the Deed and the Conducting Risk Assessments section, Providers must complete the Participant and Activity Risk Assessments and ensure that the LiW Project is appropriate prior to the Participant commencing in the LiW Project.

Providers must ensure that the Participant is not booked into conflicting appointments for the duration of these LiW events:

• information sessions

• screening and selection processes, including assessment centres

• pre-employment checks, and

• the LiW Project.

24.7. Activity managementCopy citation · §24.7

24.7.1. Creation and referral to a Launch into Work ProjectCopy citation · §24.7.1

The Department will create the Activity for the LiW Project in the Department's IT Systems and provide the Activity ID to the Provider.

The Provider can place Participants into the LiW Project once:

• the LiW Organisation has confirmed with the Provider that the Participant has passed the screening and selection requirements for the LiW Project and has accepted a place on the LiW Project, and

• the Provider has conducted Participant and Activity Risk Assessments, determined the Activity is suitable for the Participant and implemented a strategy for mitigation of any risks associated with the Activity.

  System step — The Department will provide the relevant Activity ID to those Providers whose Participants are invited to join a LiW Project.

• System step — Providers must refer the eligible and selected Participant to the LiW Project (as expected to start), prior to the start of the LiW Project.

• System step — Once the Provider has received confirmation that the Participant has commenced in the LiW Project, the Provider must confirm the Participant’s placement in the Department’s IT Systems.

• System step — Once the Participant has completed the LiW Project, Providers must update the Participant’s placement with their actual end date and end reason for the Participant to be exited from the Activity. Refer to the Meeting the Points Requirement section in the Jobs Plan and Mutual Obligations Chapter for more information.

24.7.2. Risk Assessments for a Launch into Work ProjectCopy citation · §24.7.2

LiW Placements are Specified Activities. Providers must comply with the requirements set out in the Deed and Guidelines, including the Activity Management Chapter.

LiW Organisations undertake a risk analysis as part of the LiW Project development process. LiW Organisations will share relevant information from this risk analysis with Providers on request. Providers remain responsible for conducting Participant and Activity Risk Assessments for LiW Project Participants.

Before placing the Participant into a LiW Project, the Provider must ensure the Activity is suitable and safe, will assist the Participant to progress towards employment and accounts for the Participant’s individual circumstances and capacity. Refer to the Activity Management Chapter, Referrals and Commencement of an Activity Section.

The Activity Risk Assessment should take into account the role of the LiW Organisation and the tasks the LiW Project Participants will be undertaking, consistent with Activity Management Chapter, Managing work health and safety for Activities of this Guideline.

Providers must review risks regularly and take appropriate action on those risks where required. The Provider and the LiW Organisation must determine and implement appropriate methods to mitigate the identified risks after the Provider conducts the Activity Risk Assessment, taking into consideration the Participant Risk Assessment.

Where a Participant and/or Activity Risk Assessment identifies significant work health and safety concerns that cannot be mitigated to create a safe working environment and/or cannot be adequately managed by the Provider and/or the LiW Organisation, the Activity must not proceed.

24.8. PaymentsCopy citation · §24.8

Providers may be eligible for Progress and Outcome Payments. Refer to and comply with the requirements specified in the Provider Payments and Vacancies Chapter.